That voice. It burrowed deep through to gnaw at the lower layers of his consciousness. Gruff, irritated, downright grumpy, yet very familiar and comforting in its familiarity. Uh-oh. Here he comes.

An affectionate parting shot thrown over the shoulder to whoever was in the other room, "To hell with you and the horse you rode in on!"

Oh my God! My dad never went one day without saying that! What is going on here? He became distracted by an unexpectedly appetizing aroma, and shifted his head up slightly to try to catch and identify the tantalizing smell. I think, nooo, I know, I'm hungry!

"I saw that. Now open those eyes of yours, you scamp."

Yessir! Yessir! He slowly opened his eyes. The same man sat bedside again with a tray of what looked and definitely smelled like homemade chicken soup.

"Sit up son." He set the tray down, plumped the pillows up as a backrest, and gently slid him to a semi-upright position. "Here, put your arm here." He placed a small, soft cushion under his splinted arm.

Haven't been pampered like this in how many years?

"Are you feelin' any better son?" A hand softly probed his forehead, checking for fever. The loving concern in the blue eyes made him want to cry.

This is completely impossible. This man is not my father. Damned if he doesn't look like some relation to me though.

"Why're you lookin' at me like that son?"

Wish he'd quit callin' me 'son'. Startin' to feel comfortable in the part.

"Hungry, are you?"

He nodded anxiously.

"Thought so. Think you can keep this down?" He proffered a spoonful of broth.

God I hope so. It was wonderful - hot, flavorful, nourishing, comforting. Before he knew it, the bowl was empty and he was drowsily full.

"Sleep well, my boy. You need the rest."

He looked up at this man who so reminded him of his own father and weakly mouthed, "Thank you…." before sinking into a deep, restful sleep.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Bridge to Captain Kirk. Bridge to Captain Kirk."

The intercom buzzed insistently. The underlying anxiety in Uhura's voice immediately caught his attention as he stepped out of the shower.

"Yes Lieutenant?"

"We've located Dr. McCoy, sir. He's in the Emergency Room of Gamma II Medical Center, listed in critical condition."

"Any details Lieutenant?" He was already pulling his uniform on.

Her voice faltered just for a second, "He's been severely beaten and is in a coma, Captain."

Oh Bones, no! All of a sudden he knew. The pieces all fell into place. How could he have been so stupid? How could he have not noticed? How could he have left him alone?

"Alert Sickbay, Lieutenant. Have Dr. M'Benga and Mr. Spock meet me in the transporter room ASAP."

Both men were waiting for him. Spock raised an inquiring eyebrow.

"Gentlemen, Lieutenant Uhura has located Dr. McCoy. We're beaming down to the Gamma II Medical Center", he left it at that, with a slight shake of his head.

They materialized just outside the emergency entrance. Kirk strode up to the nurse in charge. "Excuse me, I'm-"

"Yes sir, we've been expecting you. Please come this way." The nurse briskly led them to the ICU area. "Dr. Adehlson will brief you on the patient's condition."

"Gentlemen," Doctor Adehlson was short and stocky, with a shock of dark hair spilling onto dark brown eyes.

"I am Captain James T. Kirk, in command of the U.S.S. Enterprise, my First Officer, Mr. Spock, Assistant Chief Medical Officer M'Benga. What has happened to my CMO?"

"Captain, may I speak privately with Dr. M'Benga first?"

Kirk knew what the doctor was getting at. "You may speak freely before Mr. Spock and myself."

"Yes sir. Ahem, well, Doctor McCoy was apparently assaulted. He received quite a severe beating, which adversely affected the previously existing condition."

M'Benga's eyes narrowed, "Previously existing condition…?"

Kirk quieted M'Benga with a glance.

Adehlson took a deep breath and looked Kirk in the eyes, "Captain, your CMO is in a possibly irreversible coma due to what I can only assume is an accidental overdose of tranquilizers and alcohol. He is still alive only because of vomiting resultant from severe blows to the stomach."

Spock radiated the Vulcan equivalent of shock, both eyebrows elevated. M'Benga looked quizzically at Adehlson, then back to Kirk.

Kirk met all gazes head-on. "Can we see him?"

"Very briefly. We've only just now been able to stabilize him."

Silence hung heavy during the short walk to the ICU room.

"Captain, I would like to confer with Dr. Adehlson before I see Dr. McCoy."

Kirk nodded, and he and Spock entered the small room. Kirk drew a small, sad breath at the sight of McCoy on the ICU biobed. "Oh Bones…."

McCoy's bruised, swollen face was elevated due to the bandage on the back of his head. His right arm was held suspended at his side by a small antigrav, the wrist and forearm swathed in a splinted pressure bandage. His rib cage and abdomen were likewise encased in pressure bandages.

"Captain, I fail to understand what…" began Spock.

Kirk looked over, acknowledged his First Officer's concern, and then gently smoothed McCoy's damp hair back off his forehead. "Not here Mr. Spock. Let's get Bones back up to Sickbay, and I'll fill you in on what I think happened. Let's get M'Benga in here."

M'Benga stepped through the door at that moment. He bent over the prone figure, checked all the readouts, and ran an additional hand scan.

"Captain we must get him up to the ship immediately. There is some internal bleeding requiring immediate surgery. All they've been able to do is stabilize him. I believe we can operate now."

"Dr. Adehlson is willing to release him to your care?"

"Oh yes sir, I believe I've persuaded him to let Starfleet take over."

One less problem he has to deal with, thought Kirk.

"We'll need a shuttle, Captain. I would not recommend we use the transporter in his condition."

"Make the necessary arrangements, Doctor. We'll ride up with you."

The shuttlecraft landed on the pad adjacent to the emergency room within the hour. Kirk and Spock walked along with M'Benga beside the gurney. Chapel met them at the rear bay.

Kirk craned his neck as he entered and saw Scott at the controls. He smiled to himself and gently squeezed McCoy's shoulder. Hang in there, Bones. You're in good hands.

Spock moved to take the co-pilot's seat. M'Benga briefed Chapel on McCoy's condition, "Keep monitoring, Chris."

M'Benga moved to Kirk's side. "Captain, I know this is probably not the time, but…what are the psychological issues involved here? I knew Leonard was profoundly affected by his father's death, but I never thought it would lead…"

"I'm not quite sure myself, Doctor. Let's concentrate on his recovery for now, and we'll deal with the whys and wherefores later."